Process cartridge and image forming apparatus using the same

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly and a process cartridge. The main assembly contains and retains an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and therefore, the photosensitive member is not contained in the process cartridge. The process cartridge contains an electric charger, a developing device and/or cleaning device. The process cartridge is detachably mountable into the main assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A process cartridge detachably mountable into a main assembly of an image forming apparatus, comprising: plural process means for forming an image on a drum-shaped image bearing member mounted for rotation about a rotational axis in the main assembly; and   supporting means for supporting said process means in said process cartridge, said supporting means supporting at least one of said process means for movement toward and away from said image bearing member, interrelatedly with mounting and demounting of said cartridge, when said process cartridge is mounted into or demounted from the main assembly;   wherein when said process cartridge is mounted into or demounted from said main assembly, said process cartridge is moved in a direction of the rotational axis of the image bearing member, and wherein said at least one of said process means is moved toward and away from the image bearing member by contacting a part of said process cartridge and a surface of the image bearing member.   
     
     
       2. A process according to claim 1, wherein said part of said process cartridge is integral with said at least one of said process means. 
     
     
       3. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said part of said process cartridge includes a rotatable member mounted to said at least one of said process means. 
     
     
       4. A process cartridge according to claim 1 wherein said process cartridge includes cleaning means as said process means, said cleaning means is provided with an opening which is opened or closed in association with the mounting and demounting of said process cartridge. 
     
     
       5. A process cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the opening and closing of said cleaning means is effected by cooperation between a cleaning blade and a toner receiving sheet of said cleaning means, the toner receiving sheet being disposed upstream of the cleaning blade with respect to movement of a surface of the image bearing member. 
     
     
       6. A process cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the opening and closing of said cleaning means is effected by movement of a cover which is movable between a first position for closing the opening and a second position for uncovering the opening. 
     
     
       7. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a main assembly containing an image bearing member rotatable about a rotational axis;   a process cartridge detachably mountable in a direction of the rotational axis of said image bearing member into said main assembly of said image forming apparatus, including plural process means for forming an image on said image bearing member mounted in said main assembly and first supporting means for supporting said process means in said process cartridge, said first supporting means supporting at least one of said process means for movement toward and away from said image bearing member, interrelatedly with mounting and dismounting of said cartridge, when said process cartridge is mounted into or demounted from the main assembly, said at least one process means being movable by contact between the surface of the image bearing member and a part of said process cartridge;   second supporting means for supporting said process cartridge in said main assembly; and   image forming means contained in said main assembly for forming the image on said image bearing member.   
     
     
       8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said image forming means in said main assembly includes optical means for forming an image on said image bearing member and means for feeding a sheet for receiving the image. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said image forming means contained in said main assembly includes optical means for forming an image on said image bearing member, means for feeding a sheet for receiving the image, means for transferring the image from said image bearing member to the sheet and means for fixing the image on the sheet. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said process means contained in said cartridge includes cleaning means provided with an opening, said cleaning means including means for closing and uncovering the opening in interrelation with mounting and demounting of said process cartridge. 
     
     
       11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said opening and closing means includes a blade member for removing toner from said image bearing member and a toner receiving sheet. 
     
     
       12. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said closing and uncovering member includes a cover movable between a first position for closing the opening and a second position for uncovering the opening. 
     
     
       13. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a main assembly containing an image bearing drum rotatable about a rotational axis;   a process cartridge detachable mountable into said main assembly of the image forming apparatus, including:   plural process means for forming an image on said image bearing member mounted in said main assembly; and   first supporting means for supporting said process means in said process cartridge, said first supporting means supporting at least one of said process means for movement toward and away from said image bearing member when said process cartridge is mounted into or demounted from said main assembly;   second support means for supporting said process cartridge in said main assembly; and   means contained in said main assembly for forming the image on said image bearing member;   wherein said process cartridge is moved in a direction of the rotational axis of said image bearing member, wherein said at least one of said process means in said cartridge is moved toward and away from said image bearing member interrelatedly with mounting and demounting of said process cartridge, and wherein said at least one process means is movable by contact between the surface of the image bearing member and a part of said process cartridge.   
     
     
       14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said at least one of said process means is moved toward and away from said image bearing member by cooperation between a part of said main assembly and a member of said process cartridge. 
     
     
       15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said member of said process cartridge is integral with said at least one of said process means. 
     
     
       16. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the part of the main assembly is a guide having a projection. 
     
     
       17. An image forming apparatus comprising: a main assembly containing an image bearing drum;   a process cartridge detachably mountable into said main assembly of the image forming apparatus including:   plural process means for forming an image on said image bearing member mounted in said main assembly;   first supporting means for supporting said process means in said process cartridge, said first supporting means supporting at least one of said process means for movement toward and away from said image bearing member when said process cartridge is mounted into or demounted from said main assembly by cooperation between a part of said main assembly and a part of said process cartridge;   second support means for supporting said process cartridge in said main assembly; and   means contained in said main assembly for forming the image on said image bearing member;   wherein said part of said main assembly is a peripheral surface of said image bearing member, and wherein said part of said process cartridge is moved along said surface to move said at least one process means toward and away from said image bearing member, said at least one process means being movable by contact between the surface of the image bearing member and a part of said process cartridge.